Monday, 27 January 2014

TRANSLATED BY MARTIN KELSEYFrom
the beginning
of this
blog, since May 2010,
the only section that has remained unchanged has been the monthly
summaries of the most interesting sightings of birds in Extremadura.
This
compilation
of records did
not arise from the blog, rather it had been taking place from much
earlier, indeed since
the mid 1990s.The
purpose was to publish them in a book, an annual report called “Aves
de Extremadura”. Up to now, four reports have been published,
covering
the period 1998 to 2008.
Given that the information flow is, thanks to new technology, much
greater now than in those first years, it is also much easier to
disseminate it, so that these
monthly summaries have become the priority,
appearing each month, regularly and on time. All
of this is possible thanks to the enormous efforts ofSergio
Mayordomo,
who has been compiling all of the observations that meet certain
criteria for each species (see vol
IV de Aves de Extremadura).
Given the large number of records, not all necessarily appear in the
summaries; although as many as possible do.

To
the end of 2013, some graphs have been prepared to show
the amount of information that has been received to date
(taking into account all data received, not just that given in the
summaries). There
are more than 10,000 records between May 2010 and December 2013, that
together with the information gathered between 1998 and 2008 in the
reports, provide the biggest
database on birds in Extremadura.
The main
source is the Goce Forum.
There are also records
submitted directly. The
information shown in the graphs is so clear that it barely requires
comment. From the first year, people have been encouraged to submit
records and there is now an average of 3,200
annual records.
By month, the pattern is the same as bird activity, with maxima
coinciding with migration peaks in April and September/October (there
is great interest in phenological patterns) and lowest at the start
of summer in June and July, when there is less bird movement and
people may spend less time in the field because of the heat.

As
well as providing information of use for our birding and for those
visiting Extremadura, a lot of this information has been made
available also for particular studies of species and sites, when
required. Always we have in mind the understanding that we can only
conserve what we know! Of course, this database has only been
possible thanks to the incalculable collaboration of hundreds of
birders who pass on their records. A thousand thanks to you
all!!

Wednesday, 22 January 2014

TRANSLATED BY MARTIN KELSEYDespite
being a very attractive species for birdwatchers, the unusual and
isolated Iberian population of Black
Stork(Ciconia
nigra)continues
to be poorly known. Indeed, the only
national census carried out in Spain
took place way back in 1987.
Since then, there have only been some compilations of information
from varied sources. From these early estimates, the population in
Extremadura (161-219 pairs over the period 1995-2013) has always been
the largest. Portugal follows, with between 97-115 pairs in a
national census carried out in 2004, and Andalucía, with 87 pairs in
2009, all of them in the Sierra Morena. With pre-2003 figures,
we have Castilla y León (61 pairs), Castilla-La Mancha (24) and
Madrid (12). Adding this all together, admittedly
over a long time frame, produces470
pairs for certain in the Iberian Peninsular, although it is likely
that the real figure exceeds, probably by a margin, 500 pairs. If
one takes into account published data, the Iberian population has
apparently increased (Cano y Hernández,
2003, cited 405 certain pairs). If there had been a better coverage,
it is probably wiser to consider the
population as stable. For example, in
the case of Andalucía, where a figure of 54 pairs (2006) and 52
pairs (1999, 2005, 2007) rose to 89 pairs (2009), an increase of no
less than 70% in two years, which seems improbable under natural
circumstances.

Focusing
on the population in Extremadura, the graph below shows the values
obtained in 17
regional censusesthat
we have been able to compile. Two phases can be seen, the first
between 1973 and 1989, when ornithology in Extremadura was in its
infancy and the data are partial, mainly anecdotal. And the second
phase from 1993m the government of Extremadura started annual counts.
The studies undertaken by Adenex (José Luis Pérez-Chiscano, Víctor
Pizarro, José A. Román, Juan J. Ferrero and others) have also
helped. The information of these last twenty years shows a stable
trend, with peaks and troughs most likely because of differences in
effort and coverage
(there are variations of up to 21% between consecutive years). The
maximum figure was 219
pairs in 1995,
followed by 195 pairs in 2011. In2013,
the census recently made public reached
189 certain pairs,
30 less than the maximum twenty years ago. By province,116
pairs were found in Cáceres and 73 in Badajoz(in
2003 there were 101 and 82, respectively). Taking into account that
censuses almost always underestimate real populations,it
us very likely that there are more than 200 pairs in Extremadura,
perhaps
even 220.

The
map shows the breeding distribution of Black Stork in Extremadura.
The areas of highest breeding density are shown in red: the
dehesas
of
south-west Badajoz, Monfragüe, Alagón, the Tiétar pinewoods and
areas in along the Tajo and Guadiana rivers. This area of occupation
remains practically the same since the first censuses, being centred
along the Tajo river and its tributaries, and in some areas of dehesa
and mountains.

With
respect to
breeding,
we have information from 2002 and 2013. In
2013, 147 nests were monitored, from which 290 young fledged. The
reproductive indices are very similar in both years:

-
productivity (fledged young
per occupied nest): 1.97 in 2013, 2.05 in 2002.

-
fledging success (fledged young
per successful nest): 2.45 in 2013 and 2002.

-
Percentage of pairs which raise young successfully:
82% en 2013.

These
figures for Extremadura are very similar to the average for Spain
as whole(1.94)and
elsewhere in Europe (1.81 in Latvia, 1.96 in Lithuania) (Cano, 2012).

An
interesting aspect of
the Iberian population of Black Stork is the high proportion of nests
built on rock. The Black Stork normally nests in trees across its
wide range across Europe, although there are countries where use of
rocky sites is significant (Austria
28%, Bulgaria 52%). The distant population in southern Africa nests
exclusively on rock and the isolated Iberian population has a figure
of 55%, with 75% in the case of Portugal. For
Extremadura detailed information of nest substrate use is given for
the years 2003 and 2013 (table).Nests
on rock reach 55%, the same
as the Iberian population as a whole, with somewhat more use of this
substrate in 2003 than in 2013. It is noteworthy that whilst the
population, distribution and breeding success has remained stable
over the last decade, there
are important changes in best sites.
There has been a drop in the
number of nests in cork oak by a third,
compensated by an increase
in tree nests in general,
especially in holm oak and pine. With respect to rock sites, there
has been an increase in use
of rocky valleys, now the
habitat most often used, with a decrease in sites in mountain ranges.

These
changes in nest sites deserve a more detailed analysis to determine
the conservation impact of the Black Stork as well as the Cork Oaks
themselves (are there fewer Cork Oaks of sufficient size? Has
their management changed? Is there more disturbance?). Over
the last decade there at least has been more information on the
conservation of Black Stork. Some of
us rememberthat
in 2003, at a regional congress, Pizarro et
al. cited seven nests that were
destroyed by fire that year (three in the dehesas of Jerez, two in
the Tiétar pines, one in Cañaveral and one in Sierra de San Pedro)
or how the construction of the Alqueva dam apparently caused the loss
of ten active nests; also they stated that half the nests in cork oak
suffered disturbance during the cork harvest and during pruning; and
how sensitive nests were to boat traffic on rivers, indeed that there
were no nests on navigable stretches. And not forgetting the damage
caused by changing water levels on reservoirs, with 23 nests and 25
chicks lost in 1994.

Acknowledgements:
This post is based on information published in the sources cited
below. The 2013 data come from a press release from
DGMA-Junta de Extremadura,
apart from the nest site data which have been provided Ángel
Sánchez/DGMA (in litt.). The censuses in Extremadura are carried out
every year by some 250 rangers and other staff of the Environment
Directorate. We also would like to extend our thanks to personnel in
Portugal and other parts of Spain, as well as to other fieldworkers
and volunteers who have collaborated.

Saturday, 18 January 2014

TRANSLATED BY MARTIN KELSEYAfter
the successful experience of last
winter
2012/2013 (see
link)
the
Extremaduran crane enthusiasts have started a new census programme
for the 2013/2014
season.
Indeed,
this time round, they have succeeded in promoting a national
crane census,
which took place in December
2013,
the results of which have not yet been fully compiled. As
a starter, we
can provide briefly the figures
for Extremadura.
The second regional census results from 23-27 January are still
pending, which will give us an overall more complete picture. Once
the data are ready, we will publish a more detailed posting about the
wintering crane population in Extremadura in 2013/2014.

Each
cenus brings new record figures
for this species. The
final result for December 2013 was 128,
820 cranes counted, 29,515 in the provincia de Cáceres-Tajo
basin, 82,532 in the Central Zone(see
link)and
16,773 in the rest of Badajoz province.
It is worth noting that within the Cáceres province census figures
there are three roosts with about 7,500 birds that lie inside the
territory of Toledo. In the national survey results, they will be
treated as such, but given that these counts are undertaken in a
coordinated way by observers from Cáceres, at the regional scale
they are considered as part of the Extremadura total (as has been the
case previously). Indeed, cranes
have no borders. Compared
with the previous census of December 2012,
using the same methodology and similar effort,the
result is 29,000 more cranes.
In the Tajo basin of Cáceres the population has risen by 8,000
birds, despite the Brozas sector (with 1,500 more cranes) only
getting partially surveyed, in the Central Zone there were some
20,000 more, and in Badajoz province about a thousand more cranes.

-
Squacco Heron:
One at Arrocampo reservoir (CC) on 09/12 (A. Redondo and J. G.
Labrador). Two at Puente Viejo, Badajoz, on 15/12 (Juan Carlos
Paniagua -photo, with Little Bittern-) and one there on 27/12 (José
Guerra). One at Brovales reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros
(BA), on 17/12 and on 23/12 (Francisco Montaño). One at Quebrada de
las Palomeras reservoir, Navalmoral de la Mata (CC), on 22/12 (J.
Briz and V. Risco).

-
Black Stork:
Five at Fresnedillas, Oliva de Plasencia (CC), on 13/12 (Jesús
Montero), three on 15/12 (L. M. Parejo) and one there on 22/12 (Chema
Diu). This individual was ringed in the Czech Republic as a nestling
(W[61JJ]) and regularly winters at this site. One at Brovales
reservoir, Jerez de los Caballeros (BA), on 17/12 (F. Montaño). One
at Valuebo reservoir (BA), on 29/12 (Adolfo García).

-
Glossy Ibis: Six at Santa Amalia (BA) on 02/12 (José Antonio
Román) and four on 09/12 (Juan Pablo Prieto and Rafael Serra). Two
at Yelbes (BA) on 18/12 (Fernando Yuste). Three at Madrigalejo (CC)
on 20/12 (Jesús Porras). 13 at Toconal, Don Benito (BA), on 20/12
(J. A. Leal). One at the Lugar pool, Malpartida de Cáceres (CC), on
23/12 (Manuel Iglesias). One at El Batán rice fields (CC) on 28/12
(S. Mayordomo).

-
Spoonbill:
One at Valhondo stream, Cáceres on 08/12 (Pablo Ramiro). 14 at Los
Canchales reservoir (BA) on 09/12 (Toribio Álvarez), three there on
14/12 (A. Núñez, J. Solana and V. de Alba), 18 on 16/12 (J. A.
Román), six on 20/12 (Francisco Lopo) and 37 there on 21/12 (Elvira
del Viejo, F. Lopo and Losé Luis Bautista). One at Vega del
Haza, Malpartida de Plasencia (CC), on 09/12 (Raúl Sancho) and on
22/12 (Eva Palacios, Francis Martín and Miguel Ángel Muñoz). One
at Villalba de los Barros (BA) on 12/12 (Hugo Gómez-Tejedor). Six
in flight over Azud del Guadiana, Badajoz, on 15/12 (SEO-Badajoz). 14
at the Pizarrilla pool, Villanueva del Fresno (BA), on 15/12 and
three there on 16/12 (Alfonso Pérez del Barco -photo; This birds was
seen at Los Canchales on 21/12-). One at Tozo reservoir, Torrecillas
de la Tiesa (CC), on 14/12 (J. Porras) and on 17/12 (M. Kelsey). One
at Sierra Brava reservoir, Zorita (CC), on 19/12 (J. Porras). One at
Portaje reservoir (CC) on 20/12 (Raúl Granados). Nine
at Morante reservoir, Badajoz, on 20/12 (J. L. Bautista) and 20 there
on 22/12 (T. Álvarez). One between La Nava de Santiago and
Aljucén (BA) on 22/12 (F. Lopo). One at Brovales reservoir, Jerez de
los Caballeros (BA), on 23/12 (F. Montaño).

-
Dotterel: Five at Castuera (BA) on
06/12 (J. Guerra) and right there on 08/12 (William Haworth -photo-).
Six remaining at Hinojal (CC) on 10/12 (J. Porras) and on 20/12 (C.
Clemente, J. Porras and S. Mayordomo). 11 at Cabeza del Buey
(BA) on 11/12 (J. Guerra and Marc Gálvez).

-
House Martin:
At last three regularly present at Alange (BA) until 15/12 (J.
Solana, J. Guerra and M. Gálvez). Five present in Badajoz
city on 26/12 (Atanasio Fernández).

-
Pied WagtailM. a. yarrellii:
Four at Moraleja (CC) on 01/12 (C. Clemente and S. Mayordomo) and
another at Mérida landfill (BA) (J. Guerra). One at Mérida (BA) on
18/12 (F. Lopo). One at Valdefuentes gravel pits, Galisteo (CC), on
22/12 (S. Mayordomo).

-
Ring Ouzel: Two at Hornachos castle (BA) on 29/11 and one
at San Bernabé, Don Álvaro (BA), on 23/12 (F. Crystal).

-
Goldcrest: One at Sierra del Ladrillar (CC) on 02/12 (A.
Pacheco).

-
Red Avadavat:
Records at Jerez de los Caballeros (BA), three birds: a male, female
and possible juvenile in the irrigated land of Valuengo on 07/12
(Juan Carlos Delgado) and six adults at Brovales reservoir on 23/12
(Francisco Montaño -photo, male-).

-
Brambling: One at Parque Natural de Cornalvo (BA) on 09/12 (M.
Gálvez).

-
Common Crossbill: About 15 in the Sierra del Ladrillar (CC) on
02/12 (A. Pacheco).